Dragonflies and Wasps are the rulers of the skies in the insect world. Their huge wings, jaws, stingers, and flashy colors make them stand out from everything else. But on the ground, the apex predators don't show themselves during the day. These killers come out at night while the other bugs shiver in their beds. Centipedes are terrifying apex predators and I want that to be just as true in Bugmerald. Fortunately, we don't have to do much work with the two terrifying centipede Pokemon, Scolipede and Centiskorch. Scolipede has gotten some superb buffs over the years and Centiskorch boasts the only immunity to the dreaded Fire type in this whole game. Let's look at how we can keep the best qualities of these Pokemon while making sure they can hold their own in a tougher game.
1. Stats
Starting out, I want to realize the Pokedex entries that talk about the rivalry between Scolipede and Centiskorch. I know what you're thinking: how exactly is Scolipede putting up a threat against a Fire type with much higher stats? So stats are what we are granting to our OG centipede-mon. Some big buffs to HP, Attack, and Defense allow Scolipede to function even better at what it does well with a new base stat total of 532 to compete with the big boys. I also find this a fitting total for one of the rare Bug type three stage evolutions with a final evolution level in the 30s.
Centiskorch is also going to need some love here. As a mixed attacker, it really struggles to get all the stats it needs in the right spots. I could gut its Sp. Attack to patch up its weaknesses, but I think it would lose some of its identity as an incredibly powerful fiery monster if we did that. Instead, we're bumping it up to the Arcanine tier, stat-wise, and raising Sizzlipede's evolution level substantially to compensate. A 5 point reduction in both Attack and Sp. Attack allow some big buffs in Defense and Speed that should make a big difference in what Centiskorch can offer in battle. It will be a late game reward and its stats will reflect that.
Of course, Sizzlipede is barely outscoring Grubbin on the stat charts, so we're throwing some big buffs to this little mustache bug so it can hit more like a Charmeleon than a Charmander. Buffs almost across the board will make sure that Sizzlipede can at least be use-able until you hit that big evolution power boost.
2. Abilities
To start, we're going to have a little fun and replace Swarm for Scolipede and White Smoke for Centiskorch with Guts. As fierce rivals I love the idea of a poisoned Centiskorch and burned Scolipede getting even more ferocious in their attacks against each other instead of backing down. These two hate each others'...Guts. Badumcha
Then for Scolipede, Poison Point is pretty redundant when it is already using a bunch of moves that can poison a foe. Instead I'm making a new ability to reference the centipede hunting style: Neurotoxin. This ability will sharply lower an opponent's speed whenever one of Scolipede's moves successfully inflicts the Poison status on a foe. I'm a little worried about how easy this will be to code in the context of double battles, because I don't want the ability to lower speed if the opponent is poisoned by Scolipede's ally or a different effect like Toxic Orb. If it becomes too difficult, I'll change it to all of Scolipede's damaging poison moves also lower speed by one stage. Either way, this is a nice reference to centipedes in real life going for a swift poison jab to paralyze opponents so they don't get away.
Centiskorch can also do better than Flame Body for its hidden ability. Looking through the ability list, I couldn't find anything that really stood out to me for matching the flavor or battle strategy that Centiskorch offers. So instead, here is another new ability! Bracing Legs makes any self buffing moves, such as Coil, have +1 priority. This is a weaker Prankster in that it only affects self-buffing status moves but with the benefit that it can't be blocked by Dark types. Now Centiskorch can get some crucial defensive buffs in before being forced to take a hit, or get some offensive buffs in play before a Taunt or other disrupting move can prevent it.
Speed Boost and Flash Fire will of course be staying as is. I think even with the cool new options above, these two abilities will remain the preferred options in most scenarios.
3. Moves
Here is where I think we can add even more centipede flavor to these two Pokemon. The classic centipede in real life is a fast hunter that decisively strikes a killing blow in one shot with its poison pincers. Scolipede has horns instead, but I want the idea to remain. Introducing: Ruthless Horns. This Poison type attack works similarly to Wring Out, boasting a fearsome 130 base power when the opponent is at full health, but dropping in power substantially as the opponent loses HP. This move will also have a high chance to poison foes.
I'm also making some changes to Scolipede's original signature move: Steamroller. Looking at the Pokedex, I didn't realize just how heavy this monstrous centipede is. Not counting legendaries/ultra beasts or weird outliers like Totem-boosted Pokemon in Aloloa, Scolipede is the single heaviest Bug type in the normal games. This thing is massive, in the same ballpark with monsters like Tyranitar and Onix. I think this needs to be reflected in Steamroller with a little more than just flinch chance. Steamroller is getting its base power upped slightly to 70, and in addition to flinch it will now hit Rock and Flying types for super effective damage. If this gargantuan 200+ kg ball of chitin is blasting over foes like a literal steamroller, I think its fair that rocks are crumbling and brittle bird bones are snapping. Keeping the move at only 70 bp prevents this from being overpowered in my mind, while still making this move worth considering after you get access to stronger Bug moves like Megahorn
Centiskorch likewise is getting a new signature move. Flame Feast appears to be a forgettable Bug type move at only 80 base power, but similar to Freeze Dry, this move is also super effective against Fire types. Centiskorch will truly be the bane to the Fire types that haunt your fully Bug type teams and may be worth adding just for that fact. I'll also be adding a 30% Burn chance to Fire Lash to make that move feel a little more dangerous than it is right now with its relatively low power. It does lower Defense, but it really takes a while to get moving unlike Flare Blitz which is a ton of upfront damage right away.
For the rest of their movepool, not a whole lot comes to mind so I may have to expand on this later. Centiskorch as the longest (if not the tallest because of weird Slither Wing measurements) Bug type absolutely should have Wide Guard. I'll throw Quick Guard at Scolipede since it is a fast attacker that should be able to intercept these kinds of moves. Centiskorch will also get access to Calm Mind, Work Up, and Stockpile as three additional buffing options that it could choose to use with its new hidden ability. I may add Sandsear Storm, but that could possibly be too powerful even though Centiskorch is primarily a physical attacker.
Conclusion
I love how much more centipede-esque we've made these two. They should definitely be more threatening on the field now, and I think we've thrown in plenty of fun mix and match options to let players craft their ultimate hundred-legged battle partner. There is one more new addition in Bugmerald that is evocative of a centipede, but that will have to wait for another post. Oooooooh, intrigue!
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